ESG REPORTING AND CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY: FROM DISCLOSURE COMPLIANCE TO STRATEGIC ACCOUNTABILITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/7gcn4109Keywords:
ESG reporting, corporate sustainability, accountability, greenwashing, decoupling, double materiality, corporate governanceAbstract
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting has moved from a voluntary communication practice to a regulated, investor-relevant, and politically visible corporate activity. Yet the growth of disclosure has not consistently produced responsible corporate behaviour. This conceptual review examines why compliance-oriented reporting is often insufficient and how it can evolve into strategic accountability. Drawing on stakeholder, legitimacy, and agency theories, and on a narrative synthesis of recent theoretical, empirical, and review-based studies, the article analyses regulatory frameworks, voluntary and mandatory disclosure, greenwashing, decoupling, assurance, and governance mechanisms. It then proposes a conceptual framework linking ESG disclosure, strategic integration, and corporate accountability through board oversight, performance measurement, and stakeholder engagement. The review contributes by shifting attention from the quantity of disclosure to the organisational conditions under which reporting changes decisions. Implications for managers, regulators, and investors are discussed, and directions for empirical validation are outlined.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mr. Robin, Mr. Samson, Dr.M Divya, Mr. Mullai nathan G, Miss. Kavinaya. M, Dr. T. Joel Gnanapragash
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